The US, concerned about the proliferation of attempts to depose President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), has told lawmakers in Taiwan that it wants Chen to remain in power for the sake of stability in the country, local media reports said yesterday.
The US conveyed the message through Stephen Young, director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the Chinese-language China Times and the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister paper) reported.
Young has met with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and several other lawmakers regarding the anti-Chen movement and expressed Washington's position on the issue, the newspapers said.
Young said the issue was an internal affair of Taiwan's and the US does not want to get involved. But unless there was evidence proving Chen was involved in the series of financial and corruption scandals he has been accused of, he should remain in power for the sake of stability, Young is reported to have said.
"The US position is that Taiwan should maintain its status quo," the Liberty Times quoted Young as saying.
While some of Chen's aides and his son-in-law have been indicted, Chen has insisted that he and his immediate family are innocent.
Meanwhile, Chen, faced with corruption accusations and a campaign to oust him, yesterday dealt with a lighter subject, calling on parents to spend more time with their children.
Chen offered an anecdote concerning his four-year-old grandson, Chao Yi-an (趙翊安), to illustrate the importance of family values and the relationships between parents and their children.
Chen told staffers who had brought their children to work on the Presidential Office's "bring-your-family-to-work" day that Chao was crying the previous night because he could not find his father for two days nor could he talk to him on the phone. Chao even refused to play with him, Chen said.
"The relationship between parents and their children is irreplaceable," Chen said. "When I was young, I did not have much chance to be with my children because of my work. Although I have more time to be with my grandsons now, I cannot replace their father."
Chen's son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘), has been keeping a low profile since he was freed on bail following his indictment in connection with an insider-trading scandal. Chen's daughter Chen Hsing-yu (陳幸妤) was spotted by the media on Wednesday moving boxes of belongings out of the apartment she and her husband share on Minsheng East Road.
Speculation has mounted that Chen Hsing-yu is moving out to rent an apartment to make way for her brother, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中) and his wife, Huang Jui-ching (黃睿靚), who is reportedly four or five months pregnant. Huang has been staying with the president and first lady since the couple returned from the US on Aug. 4.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
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